Rubio and Wang Yi meet in Manila as US and China seek to manage tensions

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. The talks took place as Washington and Beijing try to manage a period of strained relations ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping. The meeting was held in the Philippine capital during a gathering of Southeast Asian diplomats.

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According to the supplied material, the discussion focused on how to handle bilateral differences and prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges. Rubio said the two countries have "great differences" that are likely to persist "for the foreseeable future", but that both sides discussed the need to manage those disagreements so that Xi's expected visit to the United States would be a "very positive visit". Wang said the United States should respect China's core interests, manage differences effectively and address China's legitimate concerns.

China's foreign ministry described the talks as pragmatic, positive and constructive. The meeting came against a backdrop of several disputes that have added pressure to the relationship. These include tensions over China's conduct in the disputed South China Sea and accusations from Trump that China meddled in US elections, allegations Beijing has rejected as "pure fabrication".

ASEAN countries have also raised concerns about the South China Sea and the US war against Iran during the Manila meeting. The timing gave the encounter added weight because it came only days before the planned Trump-Xi summit preparations were expected to intensify. The South China Sea dispute remains one of the most sensitive issues in the wider regional security picture.

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The supplied material says Wednesday's meeting followed a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine vessels at Second Thomas Shoal that left a Philippine sailor injured. The Philippines said a Chinese coastguard member struck one of its navy staff on the head with a wooden baton, while China said Philippine personnel were the first to attack and accused Philippine vessels of ramming a Chinese patrol boat. The two countries have since summoned each other's ambassador, underlining how quickly maritime incidents can spill into diplomacy.

Rubio also said the altercation benefited nobody and reiterated that Washington had made clear in its meetings that it was bound by a defence treaty to stand up for Manila. That position matters because the Philippines is a treaty ally of the United States, and any escalation in the South China Sea can draw in wider strategic commitments. The meeting in Manila therefore served not only as a bilateral contact, but also as a signal to regional governments watching how the two largest economies handle their disputes.

It also showed that both sides are still keeping diplomatic channels open despite sharp disagreements. What remains unclear is how much progress the two sides made beyond agreeing to continue preparations for higher-level exchanges. The supplied material does not give a date for the Trump-Xi summit beyond saying Xi is expected to visit in September.

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